Today's postings
- [Baren 32727] Re: a little shameful self-promotion and HELP (Sharri LaPierre)
- [Baren 32728] Re: brush issue (su tamsett)
- [Baren 32729] Re: brush issue ("Mike Lyon")
- [Baren 32730] Re: a little shameful self-promotion and HELP (Diane Cutter)
- [Baren 32731] Re: a little shameful self-promotion and HELP (Bobbi Chukran)
- [Baren 32732] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V38 #3785 (Jan 30, 2007) (Cstreetstudios # aol.com)
- [Baren 32733] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V38 #3763 (Jan 14, 2007) (Cstreetstudios # aol.com)
- [Baren 32734] RE: [Baren 32732] RE: [Baren 32732] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V38 #3785 (Jan 30, 2007) ("Maria Arango")
- [Baren 32735] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
Message 1
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:09:38 -0800
Subject: [Baren 32727] Re: a little shameful self-promotion and HELP
Send Message: To this poster
Maria,
I'm no expert, but I would think the book should be at least double
what you're asking for it. $25 sounds reasonable to me and I would bet
that would be about in the middle of what's out there. The middle is
good.
Cheers ~
Sharri
I'm no expert, but I would think the book should be at least double
what you're asking for it. $25 sounds reasonable to me and I would bet
that would be about in the middle of what's out there. The middle is
good.
Cheers ~
Sharri
Message 2
From: su tamsett
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:30:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 32728] Re: brush issue
Send Message: To this poster
I tried e-mailing this the other day but never saw it appear in our digest, so I am
trying again. Crossing my fingers!:
Hi there all!
I have a new question for the group about brushes. I bought some small maru bake
brushes from McClain's and singed and "sharkskinned" them then rinsed most of the
remaining brown "singe" out of them. I laid them to dry on their sides hanging the
bristles off the edge of a table. Three days later I returned to find one of the
three brushes had two rather severe cracks that went half way through the brush
(starting from the short end), one had a single narrow crack going all the way
through end to end and the third was perfectly fine. McClain's has been wonderful
and is replacing the brushes, but I am now leery of "sharkskinning" and rinsing the
other two brushes that I purchased (they are already singed).
I did everything according to instructions: i.e., did not soak the brushes prior to
singing, cooling the brushes before abrading them, and then dipping the brushes into
water during the abrading process.
I am now wondering if anyone else has had such and experience and/or what anyone
thinks may have been the cause. Two thoughts come to my mind: one, when I rinsed the
brushes I did not thoroughly soak them, so maybe they dried unevenly: or two, the
recent cold snap here made the air too dry and they dried too quickly. I have
radiant heat and I usually keep it at about 65 degrees, though the room the brushes
dried in is quite sunny.
Since I now have (hopefully) someone responding, I wonder if anyone has any advice
for an earlier unanswered question: my sharkskinned (20 minutes each) brushes are
not as soft as those my instructors have demonstrated with. Do I need to work them
longer, do I need to resinge them and work them a second time, or do I just need to
use them a lot?
Su Tamsett
PS McClain's is phenomenal! I have already received my replacement brushes!!!!
trying again. Crossing my fingers!:
Hi there all!
I have a new question for the group about brushes. I bought some small maru bake
brushes from McClain's and singed and "sharkskinned" them then rinsed most of the
remaining brown "singe" out of them. I laid them to dry on their sides hanging the
bristles off the edge of a table. Three days later I returned to find one of the
three brushes had two rather severe cracks that went half way through the brush
(starting from the short end), one had a single narrow crack going all the way
through end to end and the third was perfectly fine. McClain's has been wonderful
and is replacing the brushes, but I am now leery of "sharkskinning" and rinsing the
other two brushes that I purchased (they are already singed).
I did everything according to instructions: i.e., did not soak the brushes prior to
singing, cooling the brushes before abrading them, and then dipping the brushes into
water during the abrading process.
I am now wondering if anyone else has had such and experience and/or what anyone
thinks may have been the cause. Two thoughts come to my mind: one, when I rinsed the
brushes I did not thoroughly soak them, so maybe they dried unevenly: or two, the
recent cold snap here made the air too dry and they dried too quickly. I have
radiant heat and I usually keep it at about 65 degrees, though the room the brushes
dried in is quite sunny.
Since I now have (hopefully) someone responding, I wonder if anyone has any advice
for an earlier unanswered question: my sharkskinned (20 minutes each) brushes are
not as soft as those my instructors have demonstrated with. Do I need to work them
longer, do I need to resinge them and work them a second time, or do I just need to
use them a lot?
Su Tamsett
PS McClain's is phenomenal! I have already received my replacement brushes!!!!
Message 3
From: "Mike Lyon"
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:23:02 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32729] Re: brush issue
Send Message: To this poster
Hi, Su!
Brushes... The 'professional' brushes available from Baren Mall have a
wonderful very dense hair which come already prepared on sharkskin and
appear under magnification to be feathered at the ends (not split) and they
are ready for use as they come out of the box
http://barenforum.org/mall/products/maru_bake.php and
http://barenforum.org/mall/products/hanga_bake.php -- these are by far the
BEST I've used and are worth every penny of the cost.
The sosaku brushes from the Mall shed like crazy for a long time and once
the shedding slows (they seem to continue to shed until bald) the hairs are
too soft and fine for my taste (they tend to clump and it's more difficult
to get a smooth application of color). Except for shedding, they can be
used immediately when they arrive.
The McClains brushes have a coarser hair which has been cut squarely at the
ends, so they really MUST be conditioned prior to use.
A very QUICK way to condition brushes is with a belt or disk sander (random
orbital sanders won't work). You needn't singe the hairs for this method.
You just press the brush firmly against the moving sandpaper (I use about
120 to 150 grit) so the hairs are bent over and the sides of the hairs are
worn. Turn the brush as you sand so that the hairs are worn all around.
The brush is 'done' when most or all the hairs taper to fine points -- use a
magnifying lens to check. Takes about three to five minutes per brush.
This is how all my brushes look -- tapered ends, but mostly not split ends.
They seem to me to work FABULOUSLY well!
Then rinse the dust out of the brush (NEVER SOAK your brushes), shake out
all the excess water you can, ruffle the hairs so the shape is nice and
straight, and set the brush hair down on a towel to dry. The handles of
maru-bake (maru bake look like shoe brushes) are wood, so if you soak them,
they're likely to crack as they dry -- the hairs hold a lot of water and
take a long time to dry, so the hair side of the handle stays wet and
expanded while the top dries and shrinks and cracks are inevitable. The
hanga bake have split handles and can be hung on a nail through the split or
a hole drilled in the end of the handle to dry -- they tend not to split as
badly even when abused.
Genuine shark skin, available from the Mall
http://barenforum.org/mall/products/print_accessories.php is the
traditional brush conditioning 'tool'. It's tacked to a board and the
singed and then dampened brush is stroked repeatedly (like... for HOURS and
HOURS) against the grain of the shark skin.
I've never had much success with the metal 'cheese grater' artificial shark
skin sold by McClain and others. David Bull built an electric conditioner
by attaching several such metal grates to a wooden disk which he attaches to
his table saw and is able to singe and condition his brushes rapidly.
The idea of the sharkskin / cheese grater abrasion is to give the brush
hairs 'split ends' so each hair splits into a number of very fine hairs at
the ends. During 'professional' use (all day every day), these fine split
ends break off or get worn down so the brush hairs become more like mine.
Then a 'pro' will recondition the brush in order to produce the fuzzy split
ends again and again until the brush is worn down to almost nothing.
Good luck!
Mike
Mike Lyon
Kansas City, MO
http://mlyon.com
Brushes... The 'professional' brushes available from Baren Mall have a
wonderful very dense hair which come already prepared on sharkskin and
appear under magnification to be feathered at the ends (not split) and they
are ready for use as they come out of the box
http://barenforum.org/mall/products/maru_bake.php and
http://barenforum.org/mall/products/hanga_bake.php -- these are by far the
BEST I've used and are worth every penny of the cost.
The sosaku brushes from the Mall shed like crazy for a long time and once
the shedding slows (they seem to continue to shed until bald) the hairs are
too soft and fine for my taste (they tend to clump and it's more difficult
to get a smooth application of color). Except for shedding, they can be
used immediately when they arrive.
The McClains brushes have a coarser hair which has been cut squarely at the
ends, so they really MUST be conditioned prior to use.
A very QUICK way to condition brushes is with a belt or disk sander (random
orbital sanders won't work). You needn't singe the hairs for this method.
You just press the brush firmly against the moving sandpaper (I use about
120 to 150 grit) so the hairs are bent over and the sides of the hairs are
worn. Turn the brush as you sand so that the hairs are worn all around.
The brush is 'done' when most or all the hairs taper to fine points -- use a
magnifying lens to check. Takes about three to five minutes per brush.
This is how all my brushes look -- tapered ends, but mostly not split ends.
They seem to me to work FABULOUSLY well!
Then rinse the dust out of the brush (NEVER SOAK your brushes), shake out
all the excess water you can, ruffle the hairs so the shape is nice and
straight, and set the brush hair down on a towel to dry. The handles of
maru-bake (maru bake look like shoe brushes) are wood, so if you soak them,
they're likely to crack as they dry -- the hairs hold a lot of water and
take a long time to dry, so the hair side of the handle stays wet and
expanded while the top dries and shrinks and cracks are inevitable. The
hanga bake have split handles and can be hung on a nail through the split or
a hole drilled in the end of the handle to dry -- they tend not to split as
badly even when abused.
Genuine shark skin, available from the Mall
http://barenforum.org/mall/products/print_accessories.php is the
traditional brush conditioning 'tool'. It's tacked to a board and the
singed and then dampened brush is stroked repeatedly (like... for HOURS and
HOURS) against the grain of the shark skin.
I've never had much success with the metal 'cheese grater' artificial shark
skin sold by McClain and others. David Bull built an electric conditioner
by attaching several such metal grates to a wooden disk which he attaches to
his table saw and is able to singe and condition his brushes rapidly.
The idea of the sharkskin / cheese grater abrasion is to give the brush
hairs 'split ends' so each hair splits into a number of very fine hairs at
the ends. During 'professional' use (all day every day), these fine split
ends break off or get worn down so the brush hairs become more like mine.
Then a 'pro' will recondition the brush in order to produce the fuzzy split
ends again and again until the brush is worn down to almost nothing.
Good luck!
Mike
Mike Lyon
Kansas City, MO
http://mlyon.com
Message 4
From: Diane Cutter
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:39:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 32730] Re: a little shameful self-promotion and HELP
Send Message: To this poster
Maria...
I think you have these too cheap. Books like these usually run around $20-$25 plus shipping. I think I better order one before you take our advice...
Diane
www.dianecutter.com
www.theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
www.DCutter.etsy.com
I think you have these too cheap. Books like these usually run around $20-$25 plus shipping. I think I better order one before you take our advice...
Diane
www.dianecutter.com
www.theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
www.DCutter.etsy.com
Message 5
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 14:54:31 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32731] Re: a little shameful self-promotion and HELP
Send Message: To this poster
>You can see a preview of the book online here:
>http://www.lulu.com/content/637161
>
congratulations, maria!
I've self-published a lot of books, and lost money on most of them
because I didn't charge enough.
"Standard wisdom" says that you should charge at least six to eight
times as much as each copy costs you to print. I realize that Lulu
charges more than a regular printer would, but you still need to get
enough of a profit so you can wholesale those.
You'll need the price before getting the ISBN......and you'll need to
buy a set of ISBN's unless Lulu does that for you.
good luck with it!
bobbi c.
>http://www.lulu.com/content/637161
>
congratulations, maria!
I've self-published a lot of books, and lost money on most of them
because I didn't charge enough.
"Standard wisdom" says that you should charge at least six to eight
times as much as each copy costs you to print. I realize that Lulu
charges more than a regular printer would, but you still need to get
enough of a profit so you can wholesale those.
You'll need the price before getting the ISBN......and you'll need to
buy a set of ISBN's unless Lulu does that for you.
good luck with it!
bobbi c.
Message 6
From: Cstreetstudios # aol.com
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:48:44 EST
Subject: [Baren 32732] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V38 #3785 (Jan 30, 2007)
Send Message: To this poster
> Some of you may be aware I was writing a book to guide artists into the
> perilous world of selling in art festivals.
> Book was finished these last few weeks and I am in the last steps of the
> process of acquiring ISBN and publishing.
>
> You can see a preview of the book online here:
> http://www.lulu.com/content/637161
>
>
Hi Maria
We've been waiting for you to write this book.
It looks like we can buy it already on the Lulu site?
Thanks
Jennifer Ressmann
Looking for a great & affordable web site for your small business?
C Street Studios
Small Business Web & Print Design
Jennifer Ressmann
cstreetstudios#aol.com
www.cstreetstudios.com
Golden Colorado 80403
> perilous world of selling in art festivals.
> Book was finished these last few weeks and I am in the last steps of the
> process of acquiring ISBN and publishing.
>
> You can see a preview of the book online here:
> http://www.lulu.com/content/637161
>
>
Hi Maria
We've been waiting for you to write this book.
It looks like we can buy it already on the Lulu site?
Thanks
Jennifer Ressmann
Looking for a great & affordable web site for your small business?
C Street Studios
Small Business Web & Print Design
Jennifer Ressmann
cstreetstudios#aol.com
www.cstreetstudios.com
Golden Colorado 80403
Message 7
From: Cstreetstudios # aol.com
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:24:36 EST
Subject: [Baren 32733] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V38 #3763 (Jan 14, 2007)
Send Message: To this poster
Hi Jean
I am just getting to the emails from way back when.
thanks for your info regarding presses. I have been looking at new ones in
the
catalogues.
It will have to go on the back burner for a little while now, however. We
might
be moving to Texas this spring - away from my beloved Colorado - but with the
chance to retire someday! Hey - that's could be good!
Anyone live in the North Dallas area? Any suggestions on good places to live?
Thanks again for the great info - I've also been reading about the info on
inks.
When I started printmaking it was only Oils - I'm not sure I like this
waterbased
approach. It drys almost instantly in an already dry climate and then it's
sticky
and doesn't seem to print very consistant. I think I will need to go back to
Oils.
I might try the etching ink someone mentioned recently!
Have a nice week!
Jennifer
Looking for a great & affordable web site for your small business?
C Street Studios
Small Business Web & Print Design
Jennifer Ressmann
cstreetstudios#aol.com
www.cstreetstudios.com
Golden Colorado 80403
I am just getting to the emails from way back when.
thanks for your info regarding presses. I have been looking at new ones in
the
catalogues.
It will have to go on the back burner for a little while now, however. We
might
be moving to Texas this spring - away from my beloved Colorado - but with the
chance to retire someday! Hey - that's could be good!
Anyone live in the North Dallas area? Any suggestions on good places to live?
Thanks again for the great info - I've also been reading about the info on
inks.
When I started printmaking it was only Oils - I'm not sure I like this
waterbased
approach. It drys almost instantly in an already dry climate and then it's
sticky
and doesn't seem to print very consistant. I think I will need to go back to
Oils.
I might try the etching ink someone mentioned recently!
Have a nice week!
Jennifer
Looking for a great & affordable web site for your small business?
C Street Studios
Small Business Web & Print Design
Jennifer Ressmann
cstreetstudios#aol.com
www.cstreetstudios.com
Golden Colorado 80403
Message 8
From: "Maria Arango"
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:32:21 -0800
Subject: [Baren 32734] RE: [Baren 32732] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V38 #3785 (Jan 30, 2007)
Send Message: To this poster
Yes, I just added the ISBN info to the content and reuploaded my files, so
the Lulu site may not show the purchasing info for all users. I just checked
and it's there for me. If not, it should be up and ready in a few hours. If
you see the buttons to buy, then it is ready!
The absolute final version may differ very slightly, mostly boo-boos me and
my friends catch between now and when I get the proof copy. But the beauty
of print-on-demand is that you can purchase the preview-book any time,
boo-boos and all.
Happy festivals!
Maria
Maria Arango
www.1000woodcuts.com
the Lulu site may not show the purchasing info for all users. I just checked
and it's there for me. If not, it should be up and ready in a few hours. If
you see the buttons to buy, then it is ready!
The absolute final version may differ very slightly, mostly boo-boos me and
my friends catch between now and when I get the proof copy. But the beauty
of print-on-demand is that you can purchase the preview-book any time,
boo-boos and all.
Happy festivals!
Maria
Maria Arango
www.1000woodcuts.com
Message 9
From: Blog Manager
Date: 31 Jan 2007 04:55:20 -0000
Subject: [Baren 32735] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
Send Message: To this poster
This is an automatic update message being sent to [Baren] by the forum blog software.
The following new entries were found on the listed printmaker's websites during the past 24 hours. (28 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)
*****************
Site Name: Belinda Del Pesco Fine Art Blog
Author: bdelpesco
Item: Graphite Sketch: My Favorite Spot
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2007/01/graphite-sketch-my-favorite-spot.html
*****************
[Baren] members: if you have a printmaking blog (or a website with a published ATOM feed), and wish it to be included in this daily checklist, please write to the Baren Blog Manager at:
http://barenforum.org/contact_baren.php
For reference, sites/blogs currently being checked are:
http://barenforum.org/blog
http://woodblock.com
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com
http://studiodiary.blogspot.com
http://larimerart.blogspot.com
http://artflights.blogspot.com
http://printmakersmaterials.blogspot.com
http://mlyon.com/blog
http://room535.blogspot.com
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com
http://snowgum.blogspot.com
http://onthisblock.blogspot.com
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
http://PLawing-Printmaker.blogspot.com
http://readdevine.blogspot.com
http://mokuhankan.com/conversations
http://mokuhankan.com
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com
http://vizart.blogspot.com
http://phare-camp.blogspot.com
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com
http://williamleeholtfineart.blogspot.com
http://web.mac.com/g_wohlken/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
http://curiousmatthew.blogspot.com
http://laine.lainegreenway.com/index.html
http://azuregrackle.com/blogs/index.php?blog=2/
The following new entries were found on the listed printmaker's websites during the past 24 hours. (28 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)
*****************
Site Name: Belinda Del Pesco Fine Art Blog
Author: bdelpesco
Item: Graphite Sketch: My Favorite Spot
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2007/01/graphite-sketch-my-favorite-spot.html
*****************
[Baren] members: if you have a printmaking blog (or a website with a published ATOM feed), and wish it to be included in this daily checklist, please write to the Baren Blog Manager at:
http://barenforum.org/contact_baren.php
For reference, sites/blogs currently being checked are:
http://barenforum.org/blog
http://woodblock.com
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com
http://studiodiary.blogspot.com
http://larimerart.blogspot.com
http://artflights.blogspot.com
http://printmakersmaterials.blogspot.com
http://mlyon.com/blog
http://room535.blogspot.com
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com
http://snowgum.blogspot.com
http://onthisblock.blogspot.com
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
http://PLawing-Printmaker.blogspot.com
http://readdevine.blogspot.com
http://mokuhankan.com/conversations
http://mokuhankan.com
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com
http://vizart.blogspot.com
http://phare-camp.blogspot.com
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com
http://williamleeholtfineart.blogspot.com
http://web.mac.com/g_wohlken/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
http://curiousmatthew.blogspot.com
http://laine.lainegreenway.com/index.html
http://azuregrackle.com/blogs/index.php?blog=2/